Rick Perry’s ‘brain freeze,’ the European financial crisis and more [AM Briefing]

Rick Perry’s “brain freeze” aside, what would happen if those three agencies were gone, asks Brookings’ E.J. Dionne: “Yes, let’s see what “gone” might imply. Would Perry end all federal aid to education? Would he do away with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the part of the Commerce Department that, among other things, tracks hurricanes? Energy was the department he forgot. Would he scrap the department’s 17 national labs, including such world-class facilities as Los Alamos, N.M., Oak Ridge, Tenn., or — there’s that primary coming up — Aiken, S.C.?” (Washington Post)

Europe has three options for their financial crisis, writes New America’s Megan McArdle. (New York Post)

Politico’s Arena, citing a new poll, asks: Will President Obama lose his job? Brookings’ Darrell West answers. So does Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Brookings’ Michael O’Hanlon says the Navy can take the biggest defense cuts (New York Times)

Heritage’s James Carafano says beefing up security along the border with Mexico is one thing, but the bigger problem is a political one: “But the only way to actually secure the border is to reduce the number of people who dream and scheme to enter the country illegally. Hence, the only metric that really matters is the progress Mexico makes in becoming a safer, more secure, free and prosperous place.” (Washington Examiner)

Room for Debate asks: Why do top schools still take legacy applicants? (New York Times)

Allen McDuffee writes about politics and policy and covered think tanks for The Washington Post from 2011 to 2013. He freelances and hosts a podcast at governmentality.net and is currently working on a book about the influence of think tanks in Washington.